US5071344A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic bracket
Assignee: Ormco Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-27
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Granted: 1991-12-10
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Expires: 2011-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth. The base portion is provided with a substantially monolayer of substantially uniform sized particles. The particles may have a size in the range of 5 to 200 micron.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond F. Wong
- 👤 Patrick D. Kidd
- 👤 Farrokh Farzin-Nia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/14; A61C7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
1. An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made of a ceramic material and having a tooth contact, surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded the tooth contact surface through the use of means which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface, said particles have a size in the range 5 to 200 microns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
1. An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made of a ceramic material and having a tooth contact, surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded the tooth contact surface through the use of means which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface, said particles have a size in the range 5 to 200 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said particles are substantially hollow and spherical in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said base portion is made of a substantially transparent ceramic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein the coefficient of expansion of said particles is substantially the same as the coefficient of expansion of said base portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said orthodontic bracket is made of crystalline alumina.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said particles are made of a crystalline alumina.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said particle size is in the range of 31 to 53 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said particle size is in the range of 37-44 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said particles are made of zirconium oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said means which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded comprise an activator.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of applying a substantially monolayer of particles to the tooth contact surface of an orthodontic bracket comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of an adhesive to the contact surface of an orthodontic bracket, said adhesive having an organic binder, activator and surfactant; (b) applying a monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size to said tooth contact surface; and (c) subjecting said orthodontic bracket to a first temperature sufficient to burn out said organic binder and then subjecting said bracket to a second higher temperature substantially below the melting point of said particles so as to diffusion bond the particles to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of applying a substantially monolayer of particles to the tooth contact surface of an orthodontic bracket comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of an adhesive to the contact surface of an orthodontic bracket, said adhesive having an organic binder, activator and surfactant; (b) applying a monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size to said tooth contact surface; and (c) subjecting said orthodontic bracket to a first temperature sufficient to burn out said organic binder and then subjecting said bracket to a second higher temperature substantially below the melting point of said particles so as to diffusion bond the particles to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said first temperature is approximately 600° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method of applying a substantially monolayer of particles to the tooth contact surface of an orthodontic bracket according to claim 12 wherein after said bracket has been subjected to said second higher temperature wherein said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface, the bracket is cooled and then placed in a furnace having an oxidizing atmosphere and heated to a temperature that will cause oxidation of any impurities present or any reduced oxide so as to restore clarity to the particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said second temperature is approximately 1600° C.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of applying a substantially monolayer of ceramic particles to the tooth contact surface of a ceramic orthodontic bracket comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of an adhesive to the contact surface of an orthodontic bracket made of a ceramic material, said adhesive having an activator for diffusion bonding of the particles to said contact surface; (b) applying a monolayer of particles made of zirconium oxide ceramic material of substantially uniform size to said tooth contact surface; and (c) subjecting said bracket to a temperature so that said particles are diffusion bonded through the use of said activator to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of applying a substantially monolayer of ceramic particles to the tooth contact surface of a ceramic orthodontic bracket comprising the steps of: (a) applying a layer of an adhesive to the contact surface of an orthodontic bracket made of a ceramic material, said adhesive having an activator for diffusion bonding of the particles to said contact surface; (b) applying a monolayer of particles made of zirconium oxide ceramic material of substantially uniform size to said tooth contact surface; and (c) subjecting said bracket to a temperature so that said particles are diffusion bonded through the use of said activator to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said adhesive includes an organic binder, prior to diffusion bonding said particles to said bracket said bracket is subjected to a temperature sufficient to burn off said organic binder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said bracket is subjected to another heat treatment after said particles have been diffusion bonded to said bracket which comprises placing said bracket in an oxidizing atmosphere so as to oxidize any impurities that may be present in said particles as well as reduced oxides of the particles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein said temperature at which said organic binder is burned off is approximately 650° C., said oxidizing atmosphere comprises an oxygen containing environment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said bracket is approximately 1800° C., said bracket being in a hydrogen environment during said diffusion bonding of said particles to said brackets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein said oxidizing of said bracket occurs at temperature of about 650° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 20 wherein said particles are substantially hollow and spherical in shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 20 wherein said particles size is in the range of 37-44 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said adhesive further comprises a surfactant.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made out of a polycrystalline alumina material and having a tooth contact surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface through the use of means which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface, said particles being made of zirconium oxide and having a size in the range of 5-200 microns.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made out of a polycrystalline alumina material and having a tooth contact surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface through the use of means which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface, said particles being made of zirconium oxide and having a size in the range of 5-200 microns.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made of a ceramic material and having a tooth contact surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded to the tooth contact surface by an activator which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
An orthodontic bracket having a base portion for attachment to a tooth, said base portion being made of a ceramic material and having a tooth contact surface, a substantially monolayer of particles of substantially uniform size diffusion bonded to the tooth contact surface by an activator which reduces the temperature at which said particles are diffusion bonded to said tooth contact surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 25 wherein said particles are substantially hollow and spherical in shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 26 wherein said base portion is made of a substantially transparent ceramic material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 27 wherein the coefficient of expansion of said particles is substantially the same as the coefficient of expansion of said base portion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 28 wherein said orthodontic bracket is made of crystalline alumina.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 29 wherein said particles are made of a crystalline alumina.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 30 wherein said particles have a size in the range of 5-200 microns.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |